Korea: “Postpone Apache Helicopter Reduction as Much as Possible”

Korea: “Postpone Apache Helicopter Reduction as Much as Possible”. August. 19, 2004 21:58. by Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com.

At the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on August 19, Korea and the U.S. held the 11th Future of the Alliance Policy Initiative talks (FOTA) and earnestly began negotiations regarding the cutback of U.S. troops in Korea.

At the talks this day, Korea formally requested from the U.S. for the cutback to take place “after the end of 2006,” postponed by one year from “the end of 2005” that was suggested by the U.S. in June. The nation also requested that the U.S. put off the reduction in major U.S. forces, such as the Apache Attack Helicopter Battalion, as much as possible.

Regarding the request, the U.S. reportedly avoided responding immediately, replying, “Let’s discuss the issue at the talks on August 20.”

A government official projected, “It is difficult to estimate how much the U.S. will concede, regarding our requests. Though a consensus might be partially reached, it will be difficult for all of the issues surrounding the USFK reduction to be agreed upon at this meeting.”

At this meeting, Ahn Gwang-chan, the Korean Defense Ministry’s Policy Bureau chief, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless, the top negotiators of their respective delegations, are also planning to initially sign the Umbrella Agreement (UA) and the Implementation Agreement (IA), the legal framework for the relocation of the Yongsan base in Seoul.